Are you ruminating to add up brown rice in your dog’s meal? Are brown rice good enough for dogs? The answer is Yes! But are you muddled about your dog’s diet and eating habits? Here we will let you know how bad or good brown rice is for your dog.
Dogs should be considered an important family member. Just as you look after them, likewise their diet demands special attention and circumspection. A well balanced and healthy intake of food is required for their health and life.
Brown rice are full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins that are good enough for dogs. Make sure to peruse the entire article to get answer of all your questions regarding brown rice for dogs, so you may decide accordingly, whether to add it into your dog’s diet or not.
Why is it called BROWN rice?
It is a whole grain that has removed its in edible outer hull. This type of rice sheds its outer most hull or husk and therefore keeps the germ and bran layers intact on their place which therefore makes it appear brown or tan colored. All the nutrition is stored in bran and germ layers and that is why it is high in energy.
Is brown rice for dogs ok?
Yes, brown rice is a healthy and safe diet for dogs if given in moderate amounts. It is a whole grain that is made from rice kernel, by removing its hulls, leaving a few brans intact and therefore is orich in fibers, proteins and carbohydrates.
This wholesome meal is a great source of anti-oxidants, fibers, carbohydrates as well as Magnesium, Manganese and selenium that help in maintaining good health of your dog. Be sure to cook the rice well before serving your dog!
A rice meal on its own should never be dog’s daily affair. It should always be balanced with other diet so that he has harmonious proportion of all the essential nutrients that are crucial for its growth.
We are here to answer some most frequently asked questions related to brown rice for dogs.
SUMMERY:
- Nutritional value of brown rice for dogs.
- Does brown rice help dogs?
- Is brown rice or white rice healthier for dogs?
- Brown rice for dogs with diarrhea.
- Brown rice for dogs with kidney disease.
- Brown rice for dogs with pancreatitis.
- Brown rice for dogs with upset stomach.
- Brown rice for dogs with allergies.
- What if dog threw up brown rice?
- When and why can’t dogs have brown rice?
- Can I feed my dog brown rice everyday?
- Brown rice for dogs recipe.
- Brown rice flour for dogs.
- Is brown rice a filler in dog food?
- Conclusion.
1. Nutritional value of brown rice for dogs
One of the salubrious and healthiest grain both for dogs and humans is brown rice. It has several health benefits for dogs. Its nutritional value comprises of:
- High level of anti-oxidants that aid in maintaining blood sugar level of your cur.
- Relatively low in calories (216 calories per cup).
- It’s “No cholesterol” feature allows to reduce cholesterol levels.
- A good source of flavonoids, phenols, anti-oxidants that shield the body from oxidative stress.
- Rich in fibers that assist in digestion.
- Great source of Magnesium, Selenium and Manganese that boost the energy level and support heart of your hairy animal.
- Has good amount of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Vitamins D & B are conductive for heart’s health.
- Iron, calcium and riboflavin are also packed into this superfood.
- Gluten-free, which defends against many allergies.
- Feeds good-bacteria in the gut.
Fiber and Manganese resolve digestive issues and can regulate bowel movements.
However, rice should never be the primary source of nutrient for dogs as they need a meat-focussed meal to stay robust.
2. Does brown rice help dogs?
Yes! It is of great nutritional value and is loaded with natural fibers, that improves digestive sytem of your canine companion.
Being an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, this gluten-free meal imparts help against constipation in dogs.
But as it is rich in carbohydrates, its excessive use can cause obesity (weight gain) in dogs. Also, it is not suitable for dogs with problems like diarrhea or digestive issues, as it is hard to digest.
3. Is brown rice or white rice healthier for dogs?
Brown rice is nutritionally more beneficial than white rice as it has more proteins, more fibers and less starch. Being rich in carbohydrates, they can lead to the weight gain in dogs.
White rice is in refined form making it effortlessly digestible by dogs. Veterinary doctors recommend boiled white rice with meat for dogs with upset tummies as it is easily digested. They also have high glycemic index which can raise blood sugar level of your dog.
Below are the differences between brown and white rice that will let you learn more about them and hence help you decide which one is better for your dog.
Brown Vs White rice:
4. Brown rice for dogs with diarrhea:
Never give brown rice to your dog when he has gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. This is because the seed coat is hard to digest which ultimately can lead to gastrointestinal problems or stomach disorder.
On the other end, white rice is recommended by veterinarians to the dogs with issues like diarrhea as it is facile to digest, feeds good-bacteria and helps in regulating bowel movements.
There can be many causes of diarrhea in doggies. The most common include:
- Eating something that they were not supposed to, like any toy, fabric, bone, poison or anything toxic.
- Allergies.
- Anxiety or stress.
- Changes in diet.
- Food poisoning.
- Viruses, parasites, bacteria or any other illness.
- Medications.
If you notice severe diarrhea in your sweet friend, then book an appointment with a vet doctor rather relying in rice!
5. Brown rice for dogs with kidney disease:
You can give brown rice to dogs with kidney disease. It is resplendent with fibers and can be given to kidney affected dogs but the portion must be controlled as it has Phosphorus.
Pets with renal issues should be fed a diet with less Phosphorus,Sodium, Protein and supplemented with Omega-3 fatty-acids from fish oil.
For dogs suffering from renal disease, their diet must have:
- Less proteins, which reduces the buildup of waste products in the blood of your pet. Less proteins in diet minimises the protein loss in urine which helps in the survival of pets.
- High Sodium (salt), which result in high blood pressure which can ultimately effect kidneys. So the diet must have lower sodium contents.
- Less Phosphorus, which ultimately keeps less Phosphorus in the blood of pet that slows down the progression of kidney disease and therefore becomes the reason of survival.
- There are evidences that Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can help in the survival of pets with kidney disorders. For this reason many diets to treat renal disorders contain fish oil and if it doesn’t already have it, then it is added as a supplement.
For severe cases, always consult a dietitian if your canine friend is suffering from renal disease.
6. Brown rice for dogs with pancreatitis:
Brown rice is highly recommended to curbs with pancreatitis!
Pancreatitis is a painful swelling in the pancreas and is mainly caused by gallstones. It is often because of too much fats included in diet, or large intake of fats at once.
The main purpose of pancreas is to produce enzymes that aid in digestion. During pancreatitis, your pet is incapable of digesting food specifically that has high fats. The dogs suffering from this disease need a diet that has low level of fats that are very easily digestible and should have high quality proteins.
Brown rice being rich in grains, copious with fibers and anti-oxidants,and low in fats is therefore suggested by experts to treat pancreatitis.
Once your pet has this disease, there are potential chances of having it again.
How does a dog get pancreatitis?
- Overweight can become a reason for this disease
- If your pet has been unwell or has had a surgery.
- Too much consumption of fatty acids can cause this too.
7. Brown rice for dogs with upset stomach:
Brown rice is never prescribed for dogs with upset stomach, as it is full of fiber and high in nutrition. The grains and seed coat are not easily digestible and for this reason white rice (in boiled form) are suggested for dogs by the experts in such condition.
Reasons of upset stomach in dogs:
There might be several reasons of upset stomach similar to humans like:
- Eating something they should not.
- Eating too fast.
- Constipation.
- Gas build up.
- Bacteria or parasites.
- Ulcers.
- Inflammation.
- Motion sickness.
- Digestive sytem cancers.
- Mal absorption.
- Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis etc.
Always consult a professional veterinary if the condition worsens!
8. Brown rice for dogs with allergies:
It happens in very rare cases that your dog gets allergies from brown rice.
Experts suggest fully cooked brown rice for certain environmental allergies and sensitive stomachs of dogs because they have the proficiency to regulate digestive system and diminish overall stress in dog’s system.
Some dogs may develop food allergies , which are quite strenuous to detect. But once detected, they can be treated. These allergies might be developed immediately or they may occur after continuous intake of the same diet for years.
Symptoms of rice allergies include:
- Hair loss.
- Rashes/bumps.
- Dry flaky skin.
- Itchy skin.
- Obsessive licking/ feet chewing.
- Chronic ear infections.
- Gastrointestinal issues.
- Inflamed and red paw heads.
Always consult an expert or a doctor to discuss about your pet.
9. What if dog threw up brown rice?
If your hound threw up rice, then it might be because he is suffering from an upset stomach or gastrointestinal issue. Brown rice is never suggested for Gastrointestinal problems or disturbed stomachs.
If your dog threw up brown rice, then either consult any pro veterinary or it is suggested to:
- Withhold food for about 24 hours. Fasting your dog will let his tummy to recover quickly.
- Keep your canine pal hydrated, offer him a bowl of ice cubes after small gap intervals rather than plain water. This speeds up recovery!
- Give him boiled white rice with no seasonings.
- Give your hairy friend some bone broth to drink to keep him hydrated.
- Feed him canned pumpkin which is considered a 100% effective remedy for indigestion. It has low glycemic ratio, which is slowly absorbed by the body and therefore soothes an irritated GI tract.
10. When and why can’t dogs have brown rice?
Dogs with Gastrointestinal disorders or upset stomachs are never recommended brown rice because these are whole grains which can worsen their condition.
Carbohydrates are used as a source of fuel by these hairy animals to get energy & growth. The extravagant carbohydrates can lead to weight gain if too much brown rice are added into their daily diet.
Also never make brown rice the primary nutrient source for your curb, as they require a meat-focussed diet to stay healthy. Remember to add them gradually into your canine friend’s daily meal so that the stomach gets used to. This can help you to avoid negative reactions.
11. Can I feed my dog brown rice everyday?
Yes, you can feed brown rice to dogs everyday, but in moderate amounts. It has many important nutrients that offer a key role in dog’s health. Being high in fibers and proteins and lower in starch, they can be offered to your hairy pet in moderation.
But, as you know that excess of everything is bad! Keeping in mind the high index of carbohydrates, the extra intake can lead to weight gain (Obesity) in dogs. So, you can serve your canine friend brown rice with less than 10% of their routine caloric intake.
12. Brown rice for dogs Recipe:
Avoid adding seasonings, salt, spices, oil or butter into the rice for dogs, because they can become the reason of stomach upset. Also never add onions or garlic to it as they can be toxic.
Nutritional value:
1 cup of long grained boiled brown rice weighing 202g includes:
- 5.54g of protein.
- 0.39g of fat.
- 248 kcal (kilo calories).
- 3.23g of fiber.
- 51.7g of carbohydrates.
It also contains iron, folate and other minerals and vitamins.
Brown rice is a super-food flooded wirh fibers, proteins , carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants that impart great nutritional value into a doggy’s daily diet. Never feed this to a dog with stomach disorder or Gastrointestinal issues.
13. Brown rice flour for dogs:
You can also prepare brown rice flour for dogs with the help of whole grains of brown rice. Yes! It is absolutely safer for your hairy buddy. That is why it is a crucial ingredient in many of the dog’s foods.
The unrefined and whole grains of brown rice are grounded and crushed to prepare its flour or powder. It still retains its nourishing nutrients like fiber, calcium, zinc and folate.
14. Is brown rice a filler in dog food?
No, brown rice is not used as a filler in dog food but used as an essential ingedient. It is a granular, easily digestible carbohydrate that bestows vital benefits. Add about less than 10% of this into your pets daily meal or otherwise excessive carbohydrates can lead to obesity or other issues.
Conclusion:
Brown rice is a super food for dogs, as it is in unrefined form with no chemicals or additives and is rich in fibers, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals that are influential for your hound’s health. So, it is advised to add it into your dog’s nutrition.
Also, brown rice has way more benefits to dogs’ health as compared to white rice, as it has more fibers, more proteins, less glycemic index, low calories, and contains vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. It also reduces the risk of diabetes.
However, as you know that excess of everything is bad, keep into mind all the aspects of brown rice and your dog’s health history before adding it into your dog’s primary diet. If your dog is having any health issues like kidney disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea, upset stomach, or allergies, talk to any expert or vat before considering brown rice to be added into your dog’s diet.
Also check out: